As management of five federally run Saskatchewan pastures is transferred to the province next month, some aboriginal groups who use and have lived on the land say they're worried about the fate of historic First Nations sites and their ability to purchase the land in the future.

OTTAWA — A little-known federal office of barely two dozen people is charged with overseeing $230 billion worth of proposed natural resource projects across Canada and helping get aboriginal groups onside, but it’s facing criticism of being too heavy-handed and secretive.

OTTAWA — Federal financial documents show the government paid more than $700 million in out-of-court settlements in the last fiscal year as thousands of aboriginals and hundreds of nurses received payments for past abuse and sex discrimination, respectively.